CONSTRUCTION OF CRACK-FREE BRIDGE DECKS TRANSPORTATION POOLED FUND STUDY

ii The development, construction, and evaluation of Low-Cracking High-Performance Concrete (LC-HPC) bridge decks are described based on laboratory test results and experiences gained through the construction of 14 LC-HPC bridge decks. The study is divided into three parts covering (1) an evaluation of the chloride penetration into concrete using long-term salt-ponding tests, (2) a comprehensive discussion of specifications for LC-HPC construction and standard practices in Kansas, and (3) the description of the construction and the preliminary evaluation of LC-HPC bridge decks in Kansas. This report emphasizes the construction process; a companion report provides a detailed discussion of the influence of material properties on the performance of LC-HPC bridge decks. The first portion of the study involves evaluating the effect of paste content, curing period, water-cement (w/c) ratio, cement type and fineness, mineral admixtures (ground granulated blast furnace slag and silica fume), a shrinkag